Improvement in dressing sewing-thread



luster.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MITCHELL HECK, OF PLYMOUTH, CONNECTICUT, 'SSIGNOR TO HENRY TERRY.

IMPROVEMENT IN DRESSING SEWING-THREAD.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 12,885, dated May 15,1855.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JOHN MITCHELL HECK, of Plymouth,Litch1ield county,State of Connecticut, have discovereda new and useful Improvement in theProcess for Finishing and DressingLinen -and Cotton Thread, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My improvement consists in saturating the `Jthread with a size or liquidmade of muoilaginous ingredients and containing the eX- tract ofsaponaria-root,salep-root, and soap, and when thus saturated` subjectingthe thread to the friction of a series of rapidlyrevolving brushes,whereby the thread is polished and dried in passing over the brushes,giving the thread a smooth surface and ahigh The strength'of the threadis also increased and it remains exible and pliable. The extract ofsaponaria-root, salep-root, and soap are the most important ingredientsfor the size, and the subjecting the thread to the friction of therevolving brushes is what brings out the luster these extracts containand gives the smooth surface and finish to the thread. I have found thefollowing ingredients and proportions successful in securing the desiredluster and inish to the thread, although they may be varied, accordingto the judgment, skill, or fancy of the manufacturer.

For white thread: two ounces saponaria or soap root, two ouncessalep-root, one-fourth pound soap of Marseilles, one-half poundloafsugar, ten pounds water, one and one-half ounce gum arabic, and oneand one-half ounce white starch.

For black thread: one-half pound saponaria or soap root, one-fourthpound salep-roots, ten poundswater, one-fourth pound axseed, one-halfpound brown sugar, two ounces glue,

` two ounces gu m-arabic', and two ounces brown soap.

For fancy colors: one-half pound saponaria or soap root, one-fourthpound salep-root, ten pounds water, one-fourth pound axseed, one-halfpound brown sugar, two ounces gumarabic, and two ounces glue.

The size is thus formed ready for use. It is to be applied to the threadby being placed in a small vat or basin, in whichiaije fixed tworollers, one immediately above the other and between which the threadpasses, the under roller turning in the liquid, and thus the threadbecomes saturated with the size, asin a common dresser. The thread thenpasses over a series of rapidly-revolving brushes or like means ofproducing friction of that character, by which means the thread is driedwithout any other means as it passes along. A permanent luster and colorare thus given to the thread with a smooth surface resembling silk. Thestrength is increased and the thread remains Ilexible and pliable.

A convenient arrangement of machinery for applying this size may be madeas follows: On an upright frame or creel place a number of spoolscontaining the thread. From these spools the threads unwind and passinto the vat or basin containing the size, and between the two rollersas in a common dresser, then horizontally over the rotary brushes, andare -then carried along and taken up on other spools in the ordinary wayand by machinery in common use.

It is not the composition itself used for the size nor any particulararrangement of ma chinery for applying it that constitutes the claim Iintend to embrace in this specification; but

What I do claim as my invention, and which I desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

The using (or, in other words, subjecting the thread to the use, action,and friction) of a series of rapidly-revolving brushes to polish,soften, and dry the thread after having been sufficiently saturated witha size or liquid, substantially such as described, whereby smoothness,luster, pliability, and strength ar imparted to the thread.

JOHN MITCHELL HECK. Witnesses:

AMMI GIDDINGS, WALLACE A. BISHOP.

